How to choose a solar company
The company matters as much as the price. A solar contract can last 25 years, and the company that sold it has to be there to fix leaks, honor warranties and answer the phone. Here's how to check one out before you sign.
Checked November 12, 2026
1. Get three quotes
Ask at least three companies for a written quote on the same roof, and compare the price per watt (total price ÷ system size in watts). One quote tells you nothing; three show you what's normal. Put them side by side in the quote comparison, which ranks leases, loans and cash on the same terms: what each kWh costs you. Be wary of anyone who won't leave a written quote, or who says the price is only good today.
2. Check the license
Look the company up in your state's contractor license database, by its legal name and license number, and confirm the license is active and covers electrical or solar work. Some states also register solar sellers: in Texas, sellers and salespeople must be registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation since September 1, 2026, and Rhode Island has a public registry of solar sellers. In California, look the contractor up at the California Contractors State License Board.
3. Find out who will actually install it
Many companies that knock on doors only sell the contract. The installation goes to a subcontractor, and a third company may own the lease or loan. Ask, and get the answers in writing:
- Who will be on my roof, and are they licensed in this state?
- Who do I call if something breaks in year 8?
- Who holds the workmanship warranty, and who owns my lease, PPA or loan?
4. Look for certification and experience
NABCEP (the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) is the main certification for solar installers. To be certified, an installer has to pass an exam, sign a code of ethics and have installation experience, and NABCEP lists certified companies on its website. Some utility and state rebate programs require it. No certification guarantees good work, but it's a meaningful bar. Also ask how many years the company has installed in your area and how many systems like yours it has done. (Solar.com: why your installer should be NABCEP certified; Checkbook: how to find and hire a solar installer)
5. Read the complaints, not just the stars
Read reviews on more than one site, and look for patterns: delays, systems not turned on, roof leaks, unanswered calls.
The Better Business Bureau is worth a look, if you know what you're seeing:
- The letter grade (A+ to F) is the BBB's opinion, based mainly on the company's complaint history and how it responds. Customer star reviews don't count toward it.
- Accreditation is separate: a company applies and pays dues for it. A company can have an A+ without being accredited, or be accredited with a lower grade.
- The most useful part is the complaints themselves: what went wrong, and whether the company fixed it.
Also search the company's name with "attorney general" and "lawsuit", and check for complaints with your state attorney general. (BBB: overview of BBB ratings)
6. Ask whether the company will be around in 20 years
Several large solar companies have gone bankrupt in recent years, including SunPower in 2024 and Sunnova and the lender Mosaic in 2025, leaving many homeowners with systems that no one was servicing. What usually happens:
- Equipment warranties from the panel and inverter makers usually survive, but they often don't cover the labor to replace a part.
- Workmanship and roof-leak warranties from the installer are the ones most often lost.
- Leases, PPAs and loans are usually sold to another company. You keep paying, but service can lapse while that gets sorted out.
To protect yourself: choose equipment from makers that honor warranties directly, ask whether the workmanship warranty is backed by insurance or a third party, and for a lease or PPA, ask who owns the contract and who is responsible for repairs. (Canary Media: the Sunnova and Mosaic bankruptcies; SolarReviews: what SunPower customers need to know; Bloomberg Tax: solar bankruptcies leave homeowners in limbo)
7. Walk away if…
- They won't give you a license number or a written quote.
- They pressure you to sign today, or on a tablet before you can read the whole contract.
- They say solar is "free," part of a "government program," or that they work with your utility.
- Their savings estimate includes the 30% federal credit for a system you'd buy in 2026: it ended for buyers on December 31, 2025.